His Excellency Garvin Nicholas speaks on building a healthy nation at Health Conference
London, March 20, 2013- The Commonwealth Countries League (CCL), in partnership with the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK held a one day conference on Health, Wellbeing and Nutrition at the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission on 14 March 2013 by the kind invitation of His Excellency Garvin Nicholas.
The event was sponsored by the British Heart Foundation.
The one day Health Conference aimed to provide awareness and information on Cardiovascular Disease and Depression, Food and nutrition, Physical activities relating to health and Misconceptions of Shisha.
His Excellency Garvin Nicholas gave the opening address which set the tone for the day emphasising the value of good nutrition and its importance towards our physical wellbeing:
‘Health is influenced by a number of complex interactions between environmental factors, socioeconomic factors, health behaviours, health services and genetic factors.
These factors are known as the determinants of our health. They do not work in isolation but rather combine together to affect individual health and by extension the health of the population’
High Commissioner Garvin Nicholas addressing gathering
His Excellency spoke of the Trinidad and Tobago Health Sciences Initiative which is an umbrella programme being implemented by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
He advised that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s CDAP (Chronic Disease Assistance Programme) provides citizens with free prescription drugs and other pharmaceutical items to combat major health conditions which include Diabetes; Asthma; Cardiac Diseases; Arthritis; Glaucoma; Mental Depression and High Blood Pressure.
His Excellency said that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago recognises that education must involve the total health and well-being of the child. He referenced the fact that the School Nutrition Programme provides eligible students throughout Trinidad and Tobago breakfast and lunch through the National Schools Dietary Services Limited (NSDSL), which falls under the authority of the Ministry of Education.
Other speakers at the conference included professionals in the various sectors of the health sciences, allowing for participation from audience members from various Commonwealth countries.
The Health Conference was attended by over one hundred and thirty participants including His Excellency Dr. Chris Nonis, High Commissioner for Sri Lanka, Her Excellency, Ms. Ruth Elizabeth Rouse, High Commissioner for Grenada and Mrs. Zarina Wajid Hasan, spouse of the High Commissioner for Pakistan.
The day was a resounding success with many of the participants asking that the event take place at the High Commission next year. His Excellency has already expressed his support emphasising that, as in previous years, the Mission is always ready to support worthwhile projects which impact positively on our nationals.
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